Newly Appointed World Directors

Transcription

1 WORLD S WOMAN S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION FOR GOD AND HOME AND EVERY LAND White Ribbon Bulletin Volume 105 july - august - sept Number 3 Newly Appointed World Directors Front row left to right: Irja Eskelinen, Christian Outreach (Finland); Dawn Giddings, Education (Australia); Desiree Lanigan, Home Protection (Canada); Hyun Sook Lee, Social Service Director (Indonesia). Second row left to right: Yetunde A. Odeyemi, Youth Director (Kenya) and Glenda Amos, Children s Director (Australia).

2 WORLD OFFICERS & DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS PRESIDENT Miss Sarah F. Ward 220 Hill Avenue Knightstown, IN 46148, USA Tel: *(1) Fax: *(1) ORGANIZATION SECRETARY Mrs. Margaret Ostenstad Rygjehaugvn Haavik Terrasse Karmoy, NORWAY Tel: *(47) Mobile: *(47) TREASURER Mrs. Dorothy Russell P.O. Box 3140 Salem, OR 97302, USA Tel/Fax: *(1) Fax: *(1) RECORDING SECRETARY Mrs. Anne Bergen 11 The Corso, Parkdale 3194 Victoria, AUSTRALIA Tel/Fax: *(61) ST VICE PRESIDENT Dr. Jung Joo Kim Sung Puk Dong, Sung Puk Ku Seoul, KOREA Tel: *(82) Fax: *(82) ND VICE PRESIDENT Mrs. Brita Nilssen Storasletto Stord, NORWAY Tel: *(47) RD VICE PRESIDENT Dr. Dora de Barrientos 6th Ave Zona 12 Guatemala City GUATEMALA Tel: *(502) TH VICE PRESIDENT Mrs. Joy Butler PM Bag Mbagathi Nairobi, KENYA Tel: *(254) Ext *International Code 2 CHRISTIAN OUTREACH Pastor Irja Eskelinen Liisankatu 27 A 3, Helsinki, FINLAND irja.eskelinen@ suomenvalkonauhaliitto.fi EDUCATION Mrs.Dawn Giddings 47 Richardson Avenue, Glenelg North South Australia 5045, AUSTRALIA Tel: *(61) Fax: *(61) dougdawn@adam.com.au HOME PROTECTION Mrs. Desiree Lanigan 66 Willison Street, Ayr, Ontario CANADA N0B-1E0 Tel: *(91) desiandpete@hotmail.com SOCIAL SERVICE Mrs. Hyun Sook Lee c/o Mr. Kwang Soo CHOI P.O. Box 153, Bulaksumur 55281A, Yogyakarta, Central Java, INDONESIA lhsmisi@yahoo.com CHILDREN Mrs. Glenda Amos 4 Advance Drive, Woodrising, New South Wales 2284 AUSTRALIA Tel: *(61) Mobile: *(61) kgamos@dodo.com.au Website: Website for children: YOUTH Dr. Yetunde A. Odeyemi PM Bag Mbagathi Nairobi, KENYA Tel: *(254) yetty.odeyemi@gmail.com EDITOR Miss Sarah F. Ward. Same as President WHITE RIBBON BULLETIN published quarterly. Subscription rates in USA CURRENCY - 3 years - $21.00; 2 years - $14.00; 1 year - $7.00. Send subscriptions, address changes, and corrections to CIRCULATION MANAGER, Miss Lois I. Helm, 1527 E. 37th St., Marion, IN USA, freeman@comteck.com.

3 The President s Page... Sarah F. Ward Dear White Ribbon Sister, I am sorry that some of the convention photos in the last issue did not print well. We are trying to improve the quality of the ones we print in this issue. Go to and look at Spring 2010 and Current Bulletin to see the pictures in color. Our thanks to Glenda Amos for placing the convention speeches, workshops, and country reports on our website! Check it out at: www. wwctu.org/pages/2010_convention.html. We extend our deep sympathy to the family of the late Margaret Jackson of New Zealand (World President, ). Margaret was found unconscious at her church on May 25th and passed away a few hours later. Her family commented that she was doing what she loved the most - working at her church - right up to the end. Margaret had held many positions on the world level at various times including Vice President and Director of the Christian Outreach Department and Projection Methods Department. She had been President of New Zealand WCTU and was still actively involved in WCTU work in her country. The missionary zeal displayed by the Korea WCTU is outstanding. We are indebted to them for sponsoring many of the new members from new countries and for continuing to support their efforts back in their home countries. In this issue, our fi eld worker for Asia, Dr. Kyung ll Park, offers a brief report of their endeavors. You will soon realize how busy their new contacts have been since World Convention! During the World Convention I awarded the President s Honor Roll to the countries who completed all these requirements: Distribution of Program Kit # 5 Appointment of a National Director for each of the six departments Observance of Alcohol-free day; Tobacco-free day; FAS Awareness Day, and World WCTU Day of Prayer. Left to right: Sarah F. Ward, World President; Sheela Lall (India); Cynthia Clarkson (Sierra Leone); Irmeli Kaipainen (Finland); Samira Girgis Asham (Egypt); and Janet Palmer (New Zealand) Ghana was not represented at the Convention but received the award. 3

4 Treasurer Dorothy Russell What a wonderful time we had in Norway! It was a great convention and I was so glad to see old friends and make new ones. Three years ago the World Offi cers initiated the Willard Scholarship Fund to replace other funds that no longer have any money. So far only the United States has contributed to this new fund. The World WCTU was able to sponsor a younger woman who otherwise would not have been able to attend the Convention. We all recognize the importance of training younger women. Therefore, I hope each country will make a good effort to support this Fund in preparation for the next World Convention. The Willard Scholarship Fund is for ladies ages 26 to 50. The money for this fund is to be raised by donation, so now is a good time to promote it. National Unions and/or individuals can contribute to this Scholarship Fund. A member wishing to apply for this fund will need to contact her National President. The applicant should be active in the WCTU in her own country. The World President, World Organization Secretary, and World Treasurer make up the committee who administers this award. Please pray that we will have more countries participate in this worthy project at the next convention. God Bless! Recording Secretary Anne Bergen The World WCTU Convention in Stavanger, Norway, was a wonderful experience for the 232 people who attended from 38 countries. Personal relationships were important and it was an opportunity to meet up with old friends and make new ones. Apart from the well-run business sessions, there were enjoyable times of relaxation and entertainment. Highlights were the fjord trip to the beautiful garden at Flor and Fjaere for the convention banquet and the lovely Grieg music segment. The talent program on Saturday evening gave many the opportunity to share their talents. Thank you to the World President, Sarah Ward, the Organization Secretary, Margaret Ostenstad, and the Noway White Ribbon for their work to make this a memorable convention. I was honoured to be re-elected unopposed for a third term as World Recording Secretary. My job during the next month or so is to prepare the World Report Book. Those of you who were registered delegates to the convention will receive a copy. Australia will be hosting the next World Convention in 2013 so we have a big task in the next three years to ensure that it measures up to the Stavanger convention. We look forward to seeing you then. 4

5 Christian Outreach Irja Eskelinen NOW WE HAVE OUR DAILY LIVES AND WORK AHEAD OF US (Mark 9:2-8) And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah. (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him! Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. We had an opportunity to meet in beautiful Stavanger, many of you being very far away from home, and most of us somewhat distanced from our ordinary daily lives. The convention week was a sacred moment for us. We thank all whose great work made this beautiful convention possible. Thanks to our Father in Heaven for taking care of us during our trip. Sometimes we can experience being at the Mount of Transfi guration like the disciples were. The Mount of Transfi guration was probably on Mount Hermon at the border of what is now Lebanon, Syria, and Israel. The three who were transfi gured represented the new era in Jesus Christ; the old era of the law of the covenant in Moses; and the old covenant prophets in Elijah. Peter, James and John were the witnesses of this experience. They represented the new Christian church, which would spread the message of Jesus Christ across the world. These disciples of Jesus were confused about their experience and the event which was beyond human reasoning. It made them wish to remain in that moment. At the Mount of Transfi guration, the disciples of Jesus experienced God s Word being personifi ed: This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him! This event preceded a great change, which Jesus declared with his whole being. Eventually, it laid a foundation for the essence of Christianity, the Gospel in a nutshell: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) The experience at the Mount of Transfi guration was needed so that later on as the disciples declared the gospel of Christ they could bear hardship and suffering in their lives. From the Mount of Transfi guration, Christ led His disciples back to their daily lives to declare the Gospel, serve others, and make the world better in the midst of people. Having experienced our own Mount of Transfi guration at the convention, we now need to return to our ordinary daily lives in the company of Jesus, leading our Christian lives, declaring the Gospel, serving others, making this world a better place, and doing our White Ribbon work. May the Lord bless and strengthen us all in our ordinary daily lives. 5

6 Organization Secretary Margaret Ostenstad At the recent World Convention held in Norway, 232 participated from 38 countries;154 attended the Convention Luncheon on a beautiful island in a fjord and the international visitors were sponsored by the Norwegian White Ribbon sisters. There was excellent media coverage with four national newspapers featuring articles. A huge contingent of members marched in the 17th May parade (Norway s National Day). Carrying banners showing the Convention theme Go! Light your World and Putting the pieces together for a drug-free world awakened a lot of interest among the public lining the 3.2 kilometer route. We all recognize the current perils. We face a global increase in the use of drugs and in addiction problems. Often we feel that our warnings fall on deaf ears. It has been said that global problems demand global solutions. As we go forward for the next three years let us focus on the following: Our Vision To have a functioning WCTU organization in every country! Our Mission To support everyone in being drug-free and to do whatever we can where ever needed to be green on the personal plan. Our Hope Participate in making a difference in the lives of people, enriching their opportunities to serve God and to build strong families which in turn will make nations more upright. 6 Joining Convention Host President, Margaret Ostenstad, are the members who participated in the Grieg concert. Susanne Curry (US), pianist, played Nocturne and accompanied Su Yun Kwarc (Korea), violinist, who played Morning, Anitra s Dance, and Sonata in G. Sarah F. Ward (US), pianist, played To Spring and Sang Eun Kim (Korea), sang Solveig s Song, accompanied by Susanne Curry.

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8 Education Director Dawn Giddings SMOKING and FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH Smoking can cause problems for virtually all aspects of the reproductive system. Some of the effects of tobacco smoke on the female reproductive system include: * Reduced fertility Smoking is associated with an increased risk of infertility, for both women attempting to become pregnant for the fi rst time and women who have previously been pregnant. Smokers have an increased risk for ectopic pregnancy (when the fertilized egg implants and begins to grow outside the uterus) and miscarriage. Also, smoking harms unborn babies. * Menstrual irregularities Smokers may experience more menstrual cramps and discomfort than non-smokers. Some studies suggest this could be 50% more likely. It also suggested that smoking may be associated with a greater likelihood of menstrual irregularity. Smokes also tend to have a short menstrual cycle than non-smokers. * Menopause reached earlier Women who smoke reach menopause two years earlier than non-smoking women and may experience more menopausal symptoms, including hot fl ashes, sweats, and insomnia. Postmenopausal women who smoke also tend to have lower bone density and therefore are at increased risk for hip fractures compared to women who never smoked. The risk of early menopause increased with the more cigarettes the woman smokes. Quitting smoking reduces the risk of early menopause. * Increased risk of cancer of the cervix and vulval Women who smoke are at double the risk of developing cervical cancer compared to women who never smoked. The risk remains after taking into account other risk factors for cervical cancer including infection with the human papilloma virus, a likely factor in most cases. The risk of developing cervical cancer increased the longer the woman smokes and the more cigarettes she smokes. Smoking is also associated with an increased risk of cancer of the vulva. While vulval cancer is rare, an estimated 40% of cases in Australia are thought to be caused by smoking. * Over age 35, increased risks with oral contraceptive pill Women who smoke and use oral contraceptives are at a higher risk of heart disease. These women are 20 times more at risk of having a heart attack than non-smokers using oral contraceptives. The risk increases as the woman gets older. Women who smoke and use oral contraceptives may also have increased risk of having a stroke. Source: Quitnow website: 8

9 Children s Director Glenda Amos Is your light on? Are you shining your light in your part of the world or have you let your battery run down, failed to connect it to the power, or hid it under a blanket? I believe that the future of the WCTU lies in developing relationships with today s children. We need to help them to know that they have value and that life is at its best when enjoyed without the use of alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, gambling, and addictions to the Internet. So, have you made a difference to a child since World Convention? Determine to do something to connect with a child or children and to help them be drug-free. Choose one thing you can do and set a goal to accomplish it by October. Go Light your World and shine your light into the life a child(ren) so they will see the Light of the World. What can you do? Take the time to talk to children. Let them know you value them. Find out what their interests are. Involve them by using their talents. Show your interest by explaining what addictions can do in their lives and encourage them to choose to be in control rather than under the control of an addiction. Help parents to understand the importance of setting appropriate boundaries in their children s lives boundaries on television, internet, mobile phones, etc. Children feel safe when they have boundaries around them. Encourage children to sign a pledge to be drug-free. Be a mentor and promise to be there for them to help them keep their pledge. Help them join our Drug-free Kids club where they receive a birthday card, Christmas greeting, literature appropriate to their age, and encouragement at special times - Run a competition for children designed to emphasize the drugfree message e.g. coloring, poster design, SMS slogan, cartoon, ACROSTIC writing, Bible memory verse contest, spelling bees. Run a creative program for children emphasizing how to have a healthy lifestyle - e.g. puppet play, face-painting, balloon ministry, drama, etc. Start a prayer group to pray for the children in your church, school, or community. Write down the names of the children and present them daily to the Lord. Let them know that you are praying for them and ask them if they have any special need. Put the children s photos on your fridge to remind you to pray for them. 9

10 Asian Field Worker Dr. Kyung ll Park Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and His glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. (Isaiah 60:1-3) Greetings to all of you, my White Ribbon Sisters, and especially to the seven new national delegates from seven newly joined Asian countries. I bring you greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who strengthens us and directs us. I give thanks to God who has called me to proclaim the temperance message. For a long time, I have prayed to be a witness of the gospel to young people and to share the message of self-control or temperance, a fruit of the Spirit. As a result, God opened doors for me to have an English Bible study with students from Vietnam, Myanmar, Uzbekistan, and the United States at Ewha Woman s University in Seoul, Korea, where I am a professor in nursing. I observe and read many reports of children and adults who are suffering in various ways from alcohol, fetal alcohol syndrome, tobacco, other drugs, and gambling. I have shared these facts and the temperance movement with my students. Asian students and I have researched each country s drug situation as we have opportunity. As a result, three students from Vietnam, Mongolia, and Albania showed interest in the temperance movement after they recognized the serious drug situation in their countries. They voluntarily want to work for the temperance movement in their countries. Since World Convention I received an from Viola Hoxha from Albania who said the Convention helped her to get a lot of ideas about how to initiate the temperance program and she really hopes that God will give her the opportunity to do this through her talent of teaching. Since 1980 the Korean WCTU (KWCTU) has realized that all the social evils which many Asian countries suffer from such as prostitution, drug addiction, drinking, smoking, crimes, and broken homes are our problems. KWCTU has made great efforts to help and support Asian Christian women in China, Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia, Thailand, and Bhutan to organize WCTUs. As a result, God has guided us to meet several very active and faithful people in these Asian countries who serve as missionaries or professors, such as Professor Myung Hee Ko from Nepal, Mrs. Mikyung Oh from Mongolia, and Mrs. Suchitra Rozario from Bangladesh. Professor Ko has asked several questions about the way to organize a Union in Nepal in order to educate her students and also to inform the 10

11 public, especially women, on the harms of alcohol, nicotine, and other addictive drugs. She also plans a Christian outreach and prevention seminar. I received a message from Suchitra Rozario from Bangladesh who has started the program in some schools, churches, and slum areas to convey the temperance message. Now she plans to translate a brochure I sent her into Bengali and print it for free distribution to the Bangladesh people. Missionary Mikyung Oh in Mongolia has started to recruit volunteers for the temperance movement. She also reported experiencing the happiness of success in the alcohol treatment work she shares with her husband. She feels that prevention is much easier than treatment for alcoholism. KWCTU has prayed that the Lord would bless Christian women in China to renew their glorious WCTU work which was halted in 1945 when the Communists took over. When I visited Yanbian University of Science and Technology in China for an international symposium in 2008, I had the opportunity to make a presentation about FAS to students, professors, and presidents of several universities from South Korea, China, and the United States. Many showed interest. Professor Shin-Wha Linn was one of them. As a psychiatric nurse, she knew that many people were suffering in Christ because of the harmful effects of alcohol such as cirrhosis of the liver. Also, God prepared her with Galatians 2:20: I have been crucifi ed with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. This comforted her during the devotional services at the Convention. She is confi dent that she will be able to work for temperance in China for the name of Jesus. In closing, I would like to give thanks to God for all the good work being accomplished. It is appreciated. I must do the works of Him who sent me, while it is day; the night cometh when no man can work. John 9:4 First Vice President, Dr. Jung Joo Kim, with the representatives from Vietnam, Mongolia, Nepal, Albania, Bangladesh, and China. 11

12 Members of the Korean delegation